Green stops Roy Jones Jr. in 1st round

The Associated Press

Australian Danny Green stopped Roy Jones Jr. in the first round of their IBO world cruiserweight title fight Wednesday, preventing the 40-year-old American from claiming his ninth title across five weight classes from middleweight to heavyweight.

The 36-year-old Green retained his title and improved to 28-3 with his technical knockout over Jones at the Acer Arena, in the American's first professional fight on foreign soil in his 20-year career.

It was only Jones' sixth loss since 1989, along with 54 wins, 40 by knockout.

Green floored Jones with a right hand to the head after one minute. Green moved in to apply more pressure, and following a series of blows, English referee Howard Foster stopped the bout after just 122 seconds.

Jones offered no excuses for a defeat which could signal the end of his career.

"We don't make excuses, it was a great performance by Danny," Jones said.

Green was almost apologetic for handing such a defeat to one of his boxing role models.

"He's one of the greatest fighters of all time and the opportunity to fight him in Australia, thanks, Roy Jones Jr.," Green told the crowd.

"I almost feel bad doing that, that almost hurt me to do that to someone whom I aspire to look up to as a professional fighter inside and outside the ring. He's a bloody legend."

After nearly a one-hour delay following an undercard bout, Jones entered the arena to mild applause. But Green, with the Australian band Men at Work's song "Down Under" playing, entered the ring to an ovation moments later.

"I didn't surprise myself," said Green.

Green won the IBO cruiserweight title in Biloxi, Miss., in August with a victory over Argentina's Julio Cesar Dominguez on the undercard to Jones' NABO light heavyweight championship win over Jeff Lacy.

Jones had been stopped just twice in his career, by Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson, but Green warned ahead of the fight that he could end the Sydney fight early.

"I won't name which punch, but there's one punch, if I hit him clean with it, he is going to be knocked out for a week," Green said. "His speed can baffle me, but my power - it can hospitalize someone. My fists are like bricks."

Green has never been stopped, although he was knocked down but not out by Argentina's Omar Gonzalez in 2004.

The Australian twice lost bids for the WBC super middleweight title to Markus Beyer - one by disqualification and the other in a split decision. He retired temporarily in March 2008 before making a comeback in April this year.

Jones, who has eight belts across four divisions from middleweight to heavyweight, was a strong betting favorite.

Green weighed in at nearly 179 pounds while Jones was at just over 179.